Australia

Table of Contents

Overview

Australia is covered by the OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific (ROP). Part of the office's work is to strengthen rule of law and accountability for human rights violations, enhance and protect civic space and people's participation, and integrate human rights in sustainable development. Read more >

News & Statements

Latest news

10 Oct 2024

Special Procedures

UN Special Rapporteur urges Australia to lead emergency action to address deepening crisis in Myanmar and its escalating impact on the region

30 Sep 2024

Special Procedures

UN expert on Myanmar to visit Australia

04 Sep 2024

Special Procedures

Special Rapporteur decries Australia’s Federal Court ruling further eroding rights to female-only spaces

23 Aug 2024

Special Procedures

Australia must catch up - UN expert urges implementation of long overdue privacy reforms

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Latest statements & messages

07 Jun 2024

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

High Commissioner shows support for Human Rights Act in Australia

07 Mar 2023

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Global update: High Commissioner outlines concerns in over 40 countries

09 Oct 2019

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Whitlam Oration: Australia in a Changing Human Rights WorldSydney, 9 October 2019

08 Oct 2019

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Free and Equal: An Australian Conversation on Human Rights

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Featured Stories

My great story cover
09 August 2022

Bonding over food and migrant stories in Australia

UN Human Rights partners with the social impact communications agency LoveFrankie to launch, MyGreat Story, a new video series in Australia that uses the universal bonding powers of food and storytelling to promote inclusion of migrants.
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14 September 2017 Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

“Ghost Nets”- Aboriginal art meets human rights

An intriguing exhibition displaying the works of indigenous Australians alerts us to the plight of one of the last remaining wilderness areas in the world.
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Universal Periodic Review

Core documents for the current and previous cycles

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

Special Procedures

Reports

A/HRC/57/52/Add.2: Visit to Australia - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcos Orellana

A/HRC/54/67/Add.2: Visit to Australia - Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent - Advance unedited version

A/HRC/37/51/Add.3: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders on his mission to Australia

A/HRC/38/47/Add.1: Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences on her mission to Australia

A/HRC/36/46/Add.2: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples on her visit to Australia - Note by the Secretariat

A/HRC/35/41/Add.2: Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on his mission to Australia - Note by the Secretariat

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Special Procedures country visits

Treaty Bodies

Reports

CAT/C/AUS/CO/6: Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Australia

Committee on the Rights of the Child: Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Australia

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Concluding observations on the combined second and third reports of Australia (Advance unedited version)

Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of Australia

Concluding observations on the eighteenth to twentieth periodic reports of Australia

Human Rights Committee: Concluding Observations on the sixth periodic report of Australia

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Status & Reporting

Status of Ratifications Reporting Status Standing invitation to Special Procedures

External Resources

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

Note: OHCHR is not responsible for the content of external links.

Contact Information

Headquarters

Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD)
Contact in Geneva, Switzerland.

Asia Pacific Section
Tel. +41 22 928 9650

Field

South East Asia Regional Office
UNESCAP UN Secretariat Building
6th floor, Room 0601 A
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Website

Photo credit: Getty Images

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